By Vivian Malli     

MUSIC FEST VOLUNTEERS
Alderman Pat Dowell is looking for volunteers and invites all to attend Music Fest 3, a weekend of hip-hop, jazz, R&B, rap, salsa, soul, gospel, blues, and classical music with family fun such as carnival rides, vendors, contests, and games. The festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, July 26 and 27, at noon on the blocks of State Street between 47th and 51st Streets. Volunteer meetings will be held at the Charles Hayes Center, 4859 S. Wabash Ave., at 6 p.m. on the Wednesdays of July 9, 16, and 23. Call (312) 744-8734.  

CIVIL ENGINEER FORUM

Rub elbows with Mayor Richard M. Daley, officials from the Illinois Department of Transportation, and staff from Exelon and the Illinois Works Coalition at the American Society of Civil Engineers’ networking and round table discussion event on Tuesday, July 22, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Galleria Marchetti, 825 W. Erie St. Cost is $40, which includes lunch. Sponsorship starts at $250. Call (312) 264-2732.  

MAKING MUSIC MATTER
Charter One’s Making Music Matter summer concert series will continue to benefit the YMCA Community Schools with upcoming performances by Al Green on Saturday, July 12; Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band on Sunday, July 13; Yes on Friday, July 18; Umphrey’s McGee & STS on Saturday, July 19; John Mellencamp on Tuesday, July 22; and O.A.R. on Thursday, July 24. Concerts will be held at the Charter One Pavilion on Northerly Island, 1300 S. Lynn White Dr. Call (312) 540-2000. 

CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER

The Claudia Cassidy Theater at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., will hold a free lecture, Creative Living in the City: Bike Nation—Pipe Dream or Prospect? by DePaul professor J. Harry Wray on Thursday, July 10, at 12:15 p.m.

               See free international films presented by Cinema/Chicago at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, July 9, 16, 23, and 30. Call (312) 744-2400.

 

TAXSMART MORTGAGES

First-time buyers as well as those who have not owned a house in three years and those who buy in targeted neighborhoods are eligible for TaxSmart mortgages, overseen locally by the Chicago Department of Housing. This program, available through dozens of Chicago lenders, turns a conventional mortgage into one that gives buyers a federal income tax credit of up to $2,000 per year for the life of the mortgage. Call (312) 742-0467.

 

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
The Chicago Department of Human Services is accepting applications for college and vocational program scholarships through Friday, July 18. Applications are available at www.cityofchicago.org/humanservices. Call (312) 746-5400.

 

PRAIRIE AVE. TOUR
Explore 200 years of history on a Chicago Office of Tourism neighborhood walking tour of Prairie Avenue, which includes interior tours of the Wheeler Mansion boutique hotel and the historic Second Presbyterian Church, on Sunday, July 13, from 2 to 4 p.m. Tour starts at the Glessner House, 1800 S. Prairie Ave. Cost is $15, $10 for members. Call (312) 326-1480.

 

PARK ROUND-UP
The Chicago Park District (CPD) monthly board meeting will be held Wednesday, July 9, at 4 p.m. in the 8th floor board room at CPD headquarters, 541 N. Fairbanks Ct. On alternating months, board meetings are held at a neighborhood Chicago park. Call (312) 742-7529.

               Beach visitors can check for swim bans and water bacteria levels at each beach by calling the CPD Beach Hotline at (312) 74-BEACH.

               CPD’s eighth annual Movies in the Parks offers screenings of current and classic movies in local parks through Aug. 30. Admission is free, and all movies begin at dusk or 8:30 p.m., whichever comes sooner. Eckhart Park, 1330 W. Chicago Ave., shows Eye of the Dolphin (PG-13) on Saturday, July 5; Fuller Park, 331 W. 45th St., shows Pride (PG) on Tuesday, July 8; Kennicott Park, 4434 S. Lake Park Ave., shows Stomp the Yard (PG-13) on Friday, July 25; Harrison Park, 1824 S. Wood St., presents El Jiaje de la Nonna (NR) on Wednesday, July 30. Bee Movie (PG) screens at Commercial Club Playground, 1845 W. Rice St., on Friday, July 18, and at Dvorak Park, 1119 W. Cullerton St., on Saturday, July 19. Shrek the Third (PG) screens at Skinner Park, 1331 W. Adams St. on Saturday, July 26, and at the 13th Street Playlot Park, 2250 W. 13th St., on Thursday, July 31.  Call (312)742-7994.

 

LIBRARY ROUND-UP
The Chicago Public Library kicks off its Read Green, Live Green summer reading program with the following events at local libraries.

            The Harold Washington Library Center (HWLC), 400 S. State St., will present the music workshop All Aboard the Green Express with children's musician James Coffey on Wednesday, July 9, at 11 a.m.

            Local artist Steve Musgrave will present the Read Green, Live Green, and Draw it All! art workshop from 10:30 a.m. to noon at HWLC on Tuesday, July 29, and at the Canaryville branch, 642 W. 43rd St., on Thursday, July 24.

            The interactive Science of Green workshop on recycling and conservation will be held at 2 p.m. at the Chinatown branch, 2353 S. Wentworth Ave, on Monday, July 7, and at the Canaryville branch on Monday, July 14.

            The Chinatown branch will present Global Warming! What's A Kid to Do? on Thursday, July 17, at 10:30 a.m. and Secret Garden Book Making on Tuesday, July 22, at 1:30 p.m.

            The Canaryville branch will present The Dirt on Garbage demonstration on Monday, July 7, at 6 p.m.

 

CHINATOWN ROUND-UP
Enjoy Chinese arts and crafts, a lion dance procession, and Asian cultural entertainment at McDonald’s Chinatown Summer Fair on Sunday, July 20, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wentworth Avenue from Cermak to 24th Place.

               Come for music, food, and live performances during the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce Dragon Boat Race for Literacy on Saturday, July 26, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ping Tom Memorial Park, 300 W. 19th St. Call (312) 326-5320.

 

GO VERTICAL CLIMB

Registration has opened for Go Vertical Chicago 2008, the annual charitable stair climb to the top of the Sears Tower, which will take place on the morning of Sunday, Nov. 9. The event is limited to the first 2,250 registrants, and proceeds benefit the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. Cost is $35, plus a guaranteed minimum of $55 in pledges. Call (877) 7-CANCER.

 

DE LA SALLE ROUND-UP
De La Salle Institute (DLS), 3434 S. Michigan Ave., offers the following athletic camps for grade-school students. Boys football is $30 from Tuesday through Thursday, July 8 through 10; boys kicking is $30 from Tuesday through Thursday, July 22 through 24; boys and girls basketball shooting is $40 from Monday through Wednesday, July 7 through 9; girls volleyball is $50 from Monday through Thursday, July 28 through 31. Join boys boxing for $40, boys baseball for $50, or boys and girls golf for $75 from Monday through Friday, July 14 through 18. Call (312) 842-7355, ext. 150.

               DLS student Armand Rhone was named the Tony Lawless Award winner in track and field. Lawless awards go to the most valuable player/athlete in each sport in the Chicago Catholic League.

               DLS student Mercedes Zapata was selected as a regional finalist in the third annual Lucerne The Art Of Dairy Art Contest. 

               Five DLS students were named to the 2008 All-Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC) softball team: senior first baseman Nicole Gorman, sophomore shortstop Alexandra Hanes, sophomore catcher Nicole Ortiz, sophomore pitcher Jackie Sernek, and freshman third baseman Jaicie Botica. Sernek also was named the GCAC player of the year in DLS's division.

               DLS junior Kris Powell finished in third place in the Chicago University High Sectional in tennis singles play, placed third in the Chicago Catholic League tournament, and tied for first place at number one singles during the course of the Catholic League’s regular season.

               The Illinois Athletic Directors Association chose DLS athletic director Tom White as one of the 2007-08 Class 3A and 4A Division athletic directors of the year.

               Thirty-four DLS seniors were named to the 2007-08 Chicago Catholic League Academic All-Conference Team.

 

DUSABLE ARTS & CRAFTS

The DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Pl., comes alive with more than 100 artists, artisans, vendors, and performances during its 34th annual Arts and Crafts Festival on Saturday and Sunday, July 12 and 13. Admission is free. Call ( 773) 947-0600.

 

CONSERVATORY CENTENNIAL
The Garfield Park Conservatory kicks off its 100th anniversary celebration with a free lecture by Julia S. Bachrach, author of Inspired by Nature, who will review the conservatory’s history and the surrounding neighborhood’s revival on Thursday, July 17, from 12:15 to 1 p.m. at the Claudia Cassidy Theater in the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., 2nd Floor. A book signing will follow the lecture. Call (312) 922-1742.

 

SAFE RETURN/MEDICALERT

The Greater Illinois Alzheimer’s Association Chapter invites families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias to register with MedicAlert + Safe Return, a program that helps reunite patients with their families and caregivers after natural disasters. Call (888) 572-8566.

 

MORE SACRED ART

The Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center, 801 W. Adams St., 4th Floor, has extended its Sacred Art exhibition through Saturday, Sept. 20, due to popular demand. Call (312) 655-1234.

 

ENTREPRENEUR CONFERENCE
The All Stars Minority Entrepreneurship Project Conference will be held at the Stuart School of Business at the Illinois Institute of Technology, 565 W. Adams St., on Thursday, July 24, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $35, $45 at the door, $25 for students, and includes a continental breakfast. Call (773) 252-5211.

 

HEALTH SCREENINGS
Get free health screenings, immunizations, and school supplies at the Imani Community Group’s Back To School In Good Health event, which will take place Saturday, July 26, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 2300 W. Flournoy St. This event is co-sponsored by the John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital and Alderman Robert Fioretti. Call (312) 399-3772.

 

LAKESIDE MUSIC
Bring your lawn chairs and blankets when you listen to the sounds of famous marches, show tunes, movie themes, and concert band classics at Lakeside Bank’s free presentation of the VanderCook College of Music’s graduate band on Tuesday, July 15, at 7 p.m. in Wrightwood Park, 2534 N. Greenview Ave.

 

SPORTS TRAINING FOR LEUKEMIA

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training program will hold information sessions about personalized coaching and training to help participants of all levels complete a full or half marathon, a triathlon, or a century (100-mile) bike ride while raising funds for cancer research. Upcoming sessions will be held Thursday, July 17, at 6:30 p.m. at Running Away Multisport and Saturday, July 19, at 10 a.m. at Whole Foods Market. Call (312) 651-7355. 

                                             

BASTILLE DAY 5K RUN
Join thousands of runners and walkers for the 27th annual Niketown Bastille Day 5K Run, Walk, & Block Party presented by LifeStart on Thursday, July 10, at 7:30 p.m. at 1100 W. Jackson Blvd. The post-run block party starts at 8 p.m. and features food, live music, and can-can dancers. Proceeds benefit the Mercy Home for Boys & Girls. Pre-registration cost is  $27 to $35. Limit is 5,000 runners with no race-day running registration, but 5K "fun" run and 5K walkers may register on-site. Block party costs $5 for non-runners/walkers. Call (773) 868-3010.   

 

BOOK SIGNING

Former Bridgeporter Lisa Lockwood, a military veteran and former beauty queen, police officer, and undercover detective, will sign copies of her book Undercover Angel at Barnes and Noble, 1441 W. Webster Ave., on Saturday, July 12, at 3 p.m. For more information call (856) 489-8654, ext. 306. Her book addresses changing your life, taking risks, and reinventing yourself.

 

NEW YOUNG ADULT NOVEL
Near West Side author Claudia Guadalupe Martinez has published her first young adult novel, The Smell of Old Lady Perfume (Cinco Puntos Press, 2008), which was featured by Kirkus Reviews as a must-read kids’ book. Contact Martinez at cmartinez50@hotmail.com.

 

ACAPULCO ON THE LAKE
The McCormick Chamber of Commerce will host its third annual gala Acapulco On The Lake event on Thursday, July 17, from 4:30 to 9 p.m. at Bronzeville’s lakefront park on 31st Street and Lake Shore Drive. Advance tickets are required for admission. Call (773) 343-1752.

 

MILLENIUM ROUND-UP 
The free Family Fun Festival at Millennium Park continues with a mainstage concert at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion featuring Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players on Sunday, July 20, at 3 p.m. The award-winning, avant garde circus act, Australia's Strange Fruit, will perform on the Chase Promenade at 1, 3, and 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 10, Friday, July 11, and Sunday, July 13; at 3 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 12; and at 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. on Monday, July 14.

            The Family Fun Activity Zone will feature hands-on craft projects and garden, science, and environmental activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Saturday, July 12, and from Wednesday, July 16, through Monday, Sept. 1. The performance stage will present concerts for kids at noon and 2 p.m. featuring Chic-A-Go-Go on Tuesday, July 8, and the Paul Green School of Rock on Monday, July 21.Call (312) 742-1168.

            The Jay Pritzker Pavilion will host the Midwest Young Artists performance of jazz and orchestra music on Sunday, July 27, at 3 p.m. and the Fast Fish Puppet Theater’s presentation of A Rabbit’s Tale at 3 p.m. on the Wednesdays of July 9, 16, 23, and 30 and at 11 a.m. on the Sundays of July 13 and 27. 

            Free workouts continue on the great lawn of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Dancers of all levels and ages can join Hip-Hop Wake-up Call with the Culture Shock Dance Troupe at 10 a.m. on the Saturdays of July 5, 12, 19, and 26. Start the day right with Tai Chi on Saturday, July 5, at 7 a.m. Get fit with Body Combat led by master trainer Josef Matthews at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 19. Families can join the Kung Fu Hustle workout, which combines martial arts with acrobatics, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 26.  

 

BOOK FAIR & DEBATES

More than 100,000 used books, sorted into 60 categories, will go on sale at Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St., during its 24th annual book fair on Thursday and Friday, July 24 and 25, from noon to 8 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday, July 26 and 27, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The library also will host the Bughouse Square Debates on Saturday, July 26, from noon to 4 p.m. in Washington Square Park, directly across the street from the library. Admission to both events is free. Call (312) 255-3501.

 

LSC SUMMER CAMP
Get free local school council training from Parents United for Responsible Education on Tuesday, July 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 100 S. Morgan St. Lessons five and six will be offered. Pre-registration required. Call (312) 497-9101. 

 

ROOSEVELT ROUND-UP

Roosevelt University offers a new fast-track teacher-training program this fall that allows working adults to obtain a graduate degree on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its Chicago campus, 430 S. Michigan Ave. Students take 36 semester hours of coursework online and in the classroom over four semesters. Call (847) 619-8820.        

               Lesley Slavitt was promoted to vice president for government relations and university outreach and will report to Roosevelt President Chuck Middleton. 

 

RUSH ROUND-UP

Rush University has awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters to David Blumenthal, professor of medicine and health care policy at Harvard Medical School.

               Rush gastroenterologist Ali Keshavarzian will lead two new studies. One will look at the impact of mind/body medicine on patients suffering from ulcerative colitis while the other will assess how diet affects patients with Crohn’s Disease.

               Rush cardiologist Ziyad M. Hijazi was appointed president of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.

               Rush researchers led by Kent W. Christopherson II have found a new technology that may improve care for blood cancer patients by enhancing and expanding the therapeutic potential of cord blood stem cells in bone marrow transplants.

 

PICNICFEST
Come for rock ‘n’ roll bands, a petting zoo, miniature golf, and games when St. Barbara Parish, 2859 S. Throop St., hosts its 17th annual Picnicfest on Saturday, July 19, from 6 to 10 p.m. and Sunday, July 20, from 1 to 9 p.m. Call (312) 842-7979. 

SOLDIER FIELD EVENTS

Soldier Field, 1410 S. Museum Campus Dr., will host its second annual Cornhole Classic on Saturday, July 12, at 10 a.m. in the south parking lot. Competitive and social throwers are guaranteed at least two rounds of play and will compete for $5,000 in cash prizes that will be shared among the top four participants in the various divisions.

               Several up-and-coming comedians will perform in The Laughs on the Lake on Wednesday, July 30, at 8 p.m. Cost is $25 for reserved seats, $22 for open seating. Call (312) 235-7000. 

SOUTH LOOP NEIGHBORS
The South Loop Neighbors (SLN) will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, July 9, at 7 p.m. at Columbia College, 600 S. Michigan Ave. 

               SLN invites entries to its ninth photo show and contest that exemplify what makes the South Loop a great place to live, work, and play. Grand prize is $500; first prize is $250; and second prize is $100. Photos must be delivered by 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, to the Chicago Community Bank, Dearborn Station, 47 W. Polk St. Call (312) 859-6654 or visit www.southloopneighbors.org.

 

DOGPAC VOLUNTEERS
The South Loop DogPac is seeking volunteers for the Grant Bark Park birthday party fundraiser on Saturday, July 12. Call (312) 264-5630. 

GREEN SYMPOSIUM
The State of Illinois Green Governments Coordinating Council presents the 2008 Sustainable Universities Symposium on Tuesday, July 29, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Rd. Workshops will include green facilities management and energy efficiency and conservation. Admission is free. Call (312) 814-6671.

 UIC ROUND-UP
The University of Illinois Chicago Medical Center now offers a 20-minute, noninvasive diagnostic test to detect hidden heart disease called cardiac computed tomographic angiography. Call (312) 996-6730.

               UIC associate professor Pauline Maki has presented findings from her study that reveal women in midlife underreport the number of hot flashes they experience by more than 40% and that such flashes are linked to poor verbal memory.

               UIC assistant professor Sharon Mastracci has co-written the book Emotional Labor: Putting the Service in Public Service (M.E. Sharpe, 2008), which explores the value of the “emotional labor” that emergency dispatchers, caseworkers, and other public service workers perform and compares it to mental and physical labor in the workplace.

               The UIC College of Medicine’s Eye and Ear Infirmary celebrates its 150th anniversary this year as a pioneer in eye health.

               Bethany Elkington, a third-year doctoral student in medicinal chemistry and

pharmacognosy at UIC, will study in Laos this fall as a Fulbright Fellow to learn whether ancient manuscripts contain clues to treat tuberculosis.

               UIC researchers led by José Oberholzer have modified islet cell transplantation, which has helped diabetes patients in a recent study to get off insulin after a single transplant versus the two to four transplants typically needed using an older protocol.

               Otolaryngologist H. Steven Sims of UIC’s Chicago Institute for Voice Care recently used a new laser technique, photodynamic therapy, to remove a man’s throat cancer cells.

               HeartSounds Inc. from UIC, beat out six other teams to win the $10,000 prize from the Chicago Biomedical Consortium Business Plan Competition. The company uses patented sound separation technology to provide more accurate, non-invasive, diagnostic cardiac devices.

               UIC marketing students Steven Tran, Nancy Wong, and Majella Ciruelas won the Yellow Pages Association Collegiate Advertising Competition, earning a $2,500 team prize and $750 for their faculty adviser, David Koehler.

 

NEW ITALIAN RESTAURANT
Viaggio Ristorante & Lounge, 1330 W. Madison St., a new spot for Italian-American casual dining, is offering a complimentary glass of house wine to any patrons who dine before or after a United Center performance and show same-day ticket stubs. Call (312) 829-3333.

 

PEOPLE
Tim Casey has joined Metro Storage LLC, a self-storage company, as managing director of acquisitions and business development and will be responsible for company growth through acquisitions and third party property management.

               Rose Ann Pastor, executive director of the Career Transitions Center (CTC) of Chicago, won Loyola University Chicago’s Damen Award for her community leadership and service to others. CTC helps people in job and career transitions and is located at 703 W. Monroe St. Call (312) 906-9908

               Francisco Ramos has been selected as the next executive director for the Coalition of African, Arab, Asian, European, and Latino Immigrants of Illinois and will succeed founding executive director Dale Asis.
 

 

        Send news of events to be held “around the neighborhood” by the 15th of the month before the month they are to occur to Vivian Malli, Around the Neighborhood, Gazette, 1335 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607-3318, fax (312) 243-4270, or e-mail to pr@nearwestgazette.com.